Ernst Gouws & Co. is a family orientated wine estate that has been creating distinctly  supercalifragilisticexpialidocious wines for four generations with the fifth adding the patter of baby shoes to their rich production process.

A wine-estate fuelled by strong values and traditions. Ernst Gouws & Co’s is rooted in the Stellenbosch winelands and came to life through the toil of Ernst Gouws & his wife Gwenda Gouws. Their three children Ernst Jnr, Ezanne & Inke are all learned wine makers, More Than Food sat down with Ezanne to discuss the family wines and cooking.

What is the difference between a wine farm & a wine estate?

Wine estate is a wine farm certified to be a specific location where the full production (grape production to bottling) of a wine will take place. 

When did you decide to join the family business and why?

I loved to help my dad in the winery when I was a child and teenager.  After school I enrolled in a Bachelors Degree at Stellenbosch University studying Interior Design and Home Economics.  At the end of my second year, I realised it is not the career I would like to follow and decided to follow my passion – wine making.  Today, I am not actively involved in winemaking but more in wine marketing and promoting the family flagship.

 

What is your favourite wine?

Definitely Chardonnay

How do you get different flavours coming out of different wines made with the same grape?

It all has to do with the terroir, optimum ripeness and picking stage of grapes and fermentation processes.

What, in your opinion, are the most common ‘misconceptions’ about creating wines or experimenting with flavours?

Creating wines – we stomp on grapes the whole day;  experimenting with flavours – the flavours are added artificially (misconception)-  in fact, it starts in the vineyard already.

When it comes to the appreciation of South African wine locally and internationally how do you feel?

The quality we produce is not appreciated or rated high enough when compared to more other wine markets such as France or New Zealand.  South Africa produces from the best wines in the world.

Do you cook? What’s your signature dish? 

I Love cooking and experimenting with new recipes.

I discovered Atlas Trading in Bo-Kaap a few years ago and ever since I am known between my friends and relatives for lamb curry or Chicken Tikka Masala.

What wine do you serve with this dish?

Ernst Gouws & Co Chardonnay

Do you think having such a long family history in wine-making helps or hinders the farms willingness to be innovative?

Helps, a younger generation in a family business helps to keep the business trendy and modern.

 

Images courtesy of Melissa Bradley

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